A Brief Illustrated History of Machines and Mechanisms (History of Mechanism and Machine Science, 10)

Machines have always gone hand-in-hand with the cultural development of m- kind throughout time. A book on the history of machines is nothing more than a specific way of bringing light to human events as a whole in order to highlight some significant milestones in the progress of knowledge by a complementary persp- tive into a general historical overview. This book is the result of common efforts and interests by several scholars, teachers, and students on subjects that are connected with the theory of machines and mechanisms. In fact, in this book there is a certain teaching aim in addition to a general historical view that is more addressed to the achievements by “homo faber” than to those by “homo sapiens”, since the proposed history survey has been developed with an engineering approach. The brevity of the text added to the fact that the authors are probably not com- tent to tackle historical studies with the necessary rigor, means the content of the book is inevitably incomplete, but it nevertheless attempts to fulfil three basic aims: First, it is hoped that this book may provide a stimulus to promote interest in the study of technical history within a mechanical engineering context. Few are the co- tries where anything significant is done in this area, which means there is a general lack of knowledge of this common cultural heritage. This Book Illustrates The Historical Development Of Machines And Mechanisms More From A Technical Point Of View Rather Than A Strictly History Of Science Point Of View Since The Authors Are Mechanical Engineers Who Are Interested And Motivated To Examine The Most Significant Facts In Their Own Area Of Knowledge Of The Theory Of Machines And Mechanisms. A Full Understanding Of The Historical Development Of Technology Also Needs The Help Of Experts In Technical Matters Who Can Appreciate And Reassess Bygone Achievements In The Light Of Their Own Technical Knowledge. More Collaboration Between Science Historians And Technical Experts Is Needed, As Is Currently The Case In The Field Of Industrial Archaeology. Thus, This Book Is Also An Attempt To Set Out A Technical Approach To The Historical Development Of Machines And Mechanisms, With Enough Technical Detail To Prevent Its Understanding Being Purely Historical. This Work Deals With Mechanical Manufacturing Processes In History, Examined Through The Machines Associated With Those Processes. A Tool Is Only Included If It Is Part Of A Machine Tool, With Devices Made Up Of Moving Parts. The Chosen Descriptive Method Is Basically Graphic. At The Beginning Of Each Chapter There Is A Global Reference To The Period Embraced, The Most Relevant Facts, And The Most Significant Treatises In The Context Of Machine History. Following This Introduction Each Chapter Contains A Series Of Sections On The Types Of Machines That Are Representative Of The Period Analysed Together With Illustrations To Accompany The Text. A Fairly Extensive Bibliography Enables The Reader To Pursue Their Own Further Research And Historical Analysis. --book Jacket. Anonymous Developments -- Chinese Inventions And Machines -- Mechanical Engineering In Antiquity -- Medieval Machines And Mechanisms -- The Machine Renaissance -- Machines In The First Colonial Empires -- Machinery During The Industrial Revolution -- A Vision On Machines. Emilio Bautista Paz ... [et Al.]. Revised And Updated Translation Of The Original Spanish Work, Breve Historia Ilustrada De Las Maquinas Etsii, Madrid, Spain, 2007--t.p. Verso. Includes Bibliographical References. PREFACE INTRODUCTION On history without written sources On written documents On cultural influences on design On the scope of this book On the contents of this book CHAPTER 1. ANONYMOUS DEVELOPMENTS On machines before man On the machines of primitive man On popular machines CHAPTER 2. CHINESE INVENTIONS AND MACHINES On war machines On textile machinery On hydraulic machinery On clocks and automatons On continuity over the millennia CHAPTER 3. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING IN ANTIQUITY On technological evidence On the development of ingenious mechanisms On gears and screws On the way to mechanical engineering On Vitruvius's influence On harmony in machines CHAPTER 4. MEDIEVAL MACHINES AND MECHANISMS On raising water On clocks and automatons On the transition in Europe CHAPTER 5. THE MACHINE RENAISSANCE 123 On war machines On lifting machines On hydraulic machines On machine tools On machines for traction and transport On machines for the rural world On domestic apparatus CHAPTER 6. MACHINES IN THE FIRST COLONIAL EMPIRES On raising water On mills On lifting devices On other devices On machinery and precious metals On automatons CHAPTER 7. THE MACHINERY DURING THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION On textile machinery On the evolution of handcraft On machine tools On hydraulic machines On steam engines On the development of transport On automatic astronomical devices CHAPTER 8. A VISION ON MACHINES On re-examining Greco-Roman works On the systematisation of machine study On progress in practical use On mathematisation of mechanism design On machine training FINAL REMARKS Looking to the future On the challenge of biodevices On the challenges with Mechatronics Chronological table BIBLIOGRAPHY. This work deals with mechanical manufacturing processes in history, examined through the machines associated with those processes. A tool is only included if it is part of a machine tool, with devices made up of moving parts. Once the analytical field has been marked out, the chosen descriptive method is basically graphic. This historical compendium attempts to give a wide-angle view of historical development without making an in-depth analysis of each of the examples presented. Moreover, this book illustrates the historical development of machines and mechanisms more from a technical point of